The Welsh lovespoon

1) Tradition

A lovespoon is a spoon made of carved wood that was traditionally made by young men to be offered as a romantic gift to the woman they loved. In order to make the best possible carving, a young man would spend a lot of time so that his beloved would accept the spoon; and if she did, it’d mean that she’s willing to enter a relationship with him. This tradition is thought to be the origin of the word “spooning”.

The tradition comes from Wales and the oldest model that has survived so far originates from 1667, even though the praxis probably existed a long time before that, when it was widespread throughout Europe, and more specifically in the Celtic countries – including Brittany, whose translation for the name “lovespoon” is “marriage spoon”.

The lovespoon is likely to have resulted from the “cawl” (name of a Welsh soup) spoon – which was used for eating cawl “that is a chunky soup like broth” . Popular types of wood used to make lovespoons were usually “close-grain woods, such as sycamore, box and fruit woods.”  It was traditionally given as a romantic gift, but today it can be a present for “weddings, engagements, christenings, birthdays and anniversaries.”  Usually, lovespoons were carved by workers during their free time: farmers would mould them while cattle grazed or during winter evenings while sailors would make them during long lonely sea journeys. Lovespoons have not always been as elaborate as they are: they used to be quite elementary. In addition to the fact that carving a knotty and elaborate lovespoon was the proof of the suitor’s love for the maiden, it also displayed very useful craftsmanship skills for their future home.

2) Symbols

Each lovespoon has one (or more) symbol(s) that represent(s) different aspects of the carver’s relationship with his beloved; in the case of several symbols, they are frequently associated in a unique pattern.

• A heart symbol means love; 

• A padlock represents a pledge of fidelity as well as a representation of safety; 

• A wheel signifies a promise to carry on the relationship and to support each other; 

• Keys are used to symbolise “the key to one’s heart;” 

• Chain links represent a strong bond of faithfulness and love; 

• Diamonds seem to denote a will to provide wealth and good fortune for the loved one and a prosperous life; 

• Horseshoes bring luck and happiness; 

• An anchor stands for dedication and perseverance as well as the desire to put down roots; 

• The dragon is the symbol of Wales and of strength.

• …

3) History

The lovespoon’s history takes us back to the fifth century AD. One of King Brychan Brycheiniog’s daughters, Dwynwen, loved a man named Maelon Dafodrill. But Dwynwen’s father wanted her to marry a prince. Dwynwen was distraught and fled to the woods to beg and pray God. An angel gave her an oblivion potion to make her forget her love for Maelon, which actually turned him into an ice block. But God gave the young lady three wishes and she asked for Maelon to be thawed, for all true lovers to be helped by God, and finally, to never get married. The twenty-fifth of January is St-Dwynwen’s Day – which is like Valentine’s Day – and lovespoons are carved and gifted on that day.

4) Conclusion

In conclusion, the lovespoon is an icon of Anglophone culture because it has a long tradition and history, and is etched in the Anglophones’ lifestyle for the reason that it is still carved and gifted nowadays.

Carole Bintener, Vittorio Govahian, Alois Lava

SOURCES

- https://www.visitwales.com/explore/traditions-history/st-dwynwens-day?fbclid=IwAR04dN78UUxsZ2crnpISIbAyQoxhMtHGD6BSf91QFRGrrpvHCkOUm5udZiM
- https://www.welsh-love-spoons.com/history-of-welsh-love-spoons/?fbclid=IwAR0ii9OyXhLRSPhd3mGPNLrdIfMllLjKIQfrRy23pgg5QZwQRHwsz-NKT04
- https://giftwarewales.co.uk/pages/lovespoon-history?fbclid=IwAR0tqFHW_nxrQyzmrjq7izz-qY7gjgebSPV1HtEhTzkmBfYoycSkMAIsmuM
- https://astriddegroot.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/welsh-cawl-spoons/
- https://www.mike-lovespoons.co.uk/the-origin-and-symbolism-of-the-welsh-lov
- https://www.adamking.co.uk/pages/history-and-meanings?fbclid=IwAR22Qia7EK_hbho0MzMKeQ9m9dD9cA4EJWh41CcS7JrIjqFtQHDjYAh9P60
- http://allaboutwales.com/welsh-love-spoons-symbols-celtic-i-love-you
- https://youtu.be/XBgyBrkNukw